One of the most remarkable trends seen in the last five years is the rise in travel demand. Since the catastrophic impacts of COVID-19 on the travel and aviation industries, it seems to be having a huge bounce-back, with almost unprecedented statistics being recorded.
Projections are showing a 4.3% annual growth over the next 20 years, and airlines all over the world are having to step up and meet those growing demands.
Africa and Southern Africa are no different. In fact, with SAA making a significant turn-around, Delta Airways noting the spikes in tourism during the southern hemisphere summers and local carriers becoming more and more competitive, new routes to and from South Africa are being announced daily.
We took a look at some of the new international, regional and local routes that have been announced in the last few months.
South African Airways Expands Regional Reach
South African Airways (SAA) is significantly ramping up its operations, focusing heavily on enhancing its African network. On 20th January 2025, the airline launched a new daily flight connecting Johannesburg with Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This service aims to cater to both direct and connecting passengers.
SAA is also expanding its frequencies on several key routes. Its service to Harare, Zimbabwe, will increase from 10 to 12 flights per week, and its Lusaka, Zambia, route will grow from seven to 12 weekly flights. Furthermore, flights to Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, will now operate four times per week, up from three.
The airline’s expansion is not limited to the continent. SAA has begun flying five times a week to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and launched a new route to the mining hub of Lubumbashi in November 2024. These additions are part of a broader strategy to enhance its African network, with plans to increase its fleet’s capacity with additional A330s and A343s.
SAA is also boosting its intercontinental services, ensuring better efficiency on existing routes like Johannesburg to São Paulo and Perth, as well as Cape Town to São Paulo.
Airlink’s African Growth
Airlink has also been expanding its network, offering increased connectivity across southern Africa. In addition to daily flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam, Airlink has introduced a direct flight between Cape Town and Gaborone, Botswana, scheduled to launch in April 2025. This new route is set to enhance travel options between South Africa and Botswana, particularly for business and tourism.
Airlink’s network also now includes daily flights between Johannesburg and Beira, Mozambique. The airline continues to expand its offerings, granting more options for travellers seeking to explore Africa’s diverse landscapes and business hubs.
International Airlines Boost South African Connectivity
International airlines are recognising the rising demand for travel to South Africa, with major carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, Condor, and others expanding their routes into the country. British Airways is enhancing its service between London-Heathrow and Cape Town, adding an extra daily flight to meet summer demand. This will bring the total weekly flights to 21, up from the previous 14. British Airways has also replaced its seasonal service from London Gatwick with a more permanent daily service between Heathrow and Cape Town.
Lufthansa resumed its Munich to Johannesburg service in September 2024, operating three times per week with the advanced Airbus A350-900. Condor is also getting in on the action with a year-round flight from Frankfurt to Johannesburg starting in May 2025, further increasing options for German tourists and business travellers looking to visit South Africa.
Other airlines like Kenya Airways and Swiss carrier Edelweiss are expanding their African networks. Kenya Airways is set to launch thrice-weekly flights between Nairobi and London Gatwick in July 2025, while Edelweiss will start flying from Zurich to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, in February 2025. These additions will make it easier for travellers to access Southern and East Africa’s top destinations, including safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.
The Rise of Low-Cost and Regional Airlines
Low-cost airlines are also contributing to the region’s expanding flight options. FlySafair, for instance, launched its first international route between Cape Town and Windhoek, Namibia, in October 2024, with plans to operate two flights per week. Additionally, the airline has recently inaugurated its service between Lanseria International Airport and George Airport, offering daily flights starting in March 2025.
Air Botswana, another regional carrier, has introduced a new route connecting Gaborone with Durban, South Africa. This service began in October 2024 and operates three times a week, enhancing travel between Botswana and South Africa’s coastal regions.
Increased Global Access to Africa
The surge in flight demand also reflects the increasing global interest in Africa’s tourism and business potential. In addition to regional routes, airlines such as Emirates, Norse Atlantic Airlines, and Qantas are expanding their African presence. Emirates continues to broaden its reach with new services to Entebbe, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg. Similarly, Qantas will bring its Airbus A380 from Sydney to Johannesburg, increasing accessibility to South Africa’s iconic destinations.
